Effects of oxidation of lysozyme by hypohalous acids and haloamines on enzymatic activity and aggregation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Taurine bromamine: A potent oxidant of tryptophan residues in albumin

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Leukotrienes are not essential for the efficacy of a heterologous vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of subinhibitory concentration of chlorhexidine on Streptococcus agalactiae virulence factor expression

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of chlorhexidine at subinhibitory concentration (50% minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)) on the growth, cytolysin expression and phagocytosis of Streptococcus agalactiae ATCC 13813. Bacterial growth with and without chlorhexidine treatment was monitored by turbidity measurements, and exocytolysins were estimated by neutral red uptake assay by the McCoy cell line. The phagocytic process was evaluated using luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence to follow the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear neutrophils exposed to bacteria. Chlorhexidine-treated culture did not exhibit a detectable decrease in cell growth, and no statistically significant reduction in the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear neutrophils was observed. However, growth in the presence of chlorhexidine resulted in a significant reduction of S. agalactiae exocytolysins. Although 50% MIC of chlorhexidine did not interfere with S. agalactiae growth and phagocytosis, the knowledge that this concentration was still able to alter some bacterial virulence parameters may be useful in its therapeutic applications. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

Chemiluminescent determination of leukocyte alkaline phosphatase: An advantageous alternative to the cytochemical assay

The determination of leukocyte alkaline phosphatasd (LAP) is used as an aid to diagnose many diseases in the laboratory. For example, it can be used to distinguish chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) from other myeloproliferative disorders (particularly myelofibrosis and polycythemia) and leukemoid reactions (LR). Traditionally, this test is performed with the use of subjective cytochemical assays that assign a score to the level of LAP. Here we present a nonsubjective, quantitative, sensitive, and inexpensive chemiluminescent technique that determines LAP based on the commercial reagent Immulite (R) (AMPPD). To validate this methodology, intact leukocytes obtained from 32 healthy subjects, nine CML patients, and nine LR patients were submitted to the optimized protocol. By measuring the light emission elicited by four concentrations of neutrophils, we were able to estimate the activity of LAP per cell (the slope of the curve obtained by linear regression). A high linear correlation was found between the chemiluminescent result (slope) and the cytochemical score. The slope for healthy individuals ranged between 0.61 and 8.49 (10(-5) mV.s/cell), with a median of 2.04 (10(-5) mV.s/cell). These results were statistically different from those of CML patients (range = 0.07-1.75, median = 0.79) and LR patients (range = 3.84-47.24, median 9.58; P < 0.05).

Effect of the isocoumarin paepalantine on the luminol and lucigenin amplified chemiluminescence of rat neutrophils

Paepalantine (9,10-dihydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-1H-naphto(2,3c)pyran-1-one), a natural isocoumarin isolated from the capitula of Paepalanthus bromelioides (Eriocaulaceae), was assessed for its effect on the respiratory burst (zymosan-stimulated luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence and. PMA-stimulated lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence) of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in vitro. Special attention was devoted to establishing the IC50 for neutrophils. Paepalantine was able to decrease luminol and lucigenin chemiluminescence, reflecting an inhibitory effect on the respiratory burst, with an ED50 of 0.44 +/- 0.05 and 0.84 +/- 0.15 mug/ml, respectively. A cell-free system was performed with paepalantine on myeloperoxidase/H2O2 and myeloperoxidase/H2O2/Cl- systems. Paepalantine inhibited luminol oxidation in both systems. This inhibition was related to the interaction of paepalantine-myeloperoxidase and its scavenger effect on HOCl.

Effects of Formulations Containing Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) Acetoamidobenzoate and Pidolate on the Skin

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of formulations containing DMAE pidolate and DMAE acetoamidobenzoate on the skin. Four areas of five swines were submitted to following treatments during 15 days: C (Control), S (Silicone = 80 % DC*LC Blend (R)), F1 (DMAE acetoamidobenzoate), F2 (DMAE pidolate). Measures of the thickness of epidermis and stratum corneum, and the density population of fibroblasts and leukocytes in papillary dermis were obtained. We also assessed possible variations in birefringence of dermis collagen bundles. Means of the data was compared using ANOVA followed by the Tukey test. The F1 and F2 groups showed a thicker epidermis than the control group (p < 0.01), but did not demonstrate a significant difference in the number of fibroblasts and leukocytes, as well as in the birefringent areas of collagen bundles, in comparison with the control groups. The DMAE-supplemented formulations enhanced viable epidermis thickness, but did not modify structures related with mechanical properties of the skin.

Oxidation of melatonin by taurine chloramine

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Protocatechuic Acid Alkyl Esters: Hydrophobicity As a Determinant Factor for Inhibition of NADPH Oxidase

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Indicadores da resposta ao estresse agudo associados com a familiaridade ao ambiente e aos procedimentos de banho e tosa em cães (Canis familiaris) da raça poodle

The stress responses can be parameters used in order to identify the welfare of animals. Behavior parameters can also be regarded as means to identify their relation to stressing situations. In this study, adult male and female poodle dogs, accustomed (group 1) or not (group 2) to the environment of a bath and grooming salon were analyzed through the plasmatic concentration of cortisol, cell counting of the immune system (total leukocytes and percentage of neutrophils and lymphocytes) and through observation of changes in behavior before and after the bath and grooming service. After arriving at the kennel, the dogs were taken to the bath and grooming facility, where they had their blood samples taken and were observed for ten minutes. The subsequent procedures consisted of the bath and grooming services and the collection of another blood samples. The research results were analyzed through non-parametric statistic tests and p < 0.05. Accustomed and non-accustomed dogs presented different hormonal and behavior responses: accustomed dogs presented an increasing of the cortisol level at the second blood samples collection, thus indicating stress towards the aforementioned procedures and presenting behavior responses which can be described as moderated stress. Non-accustomed dogs presented the same cortisol levels in both first and second samples suggesting that they were already reacting to the new environment. Dogs also shown behavioral responses which can be described as acute stress. Both male and female dogs showed similar immunological changes as well as different endocrine and behavioral profiles. Concerning aggression, this study demonstrates that biting the owner can be a predicting behavior of aggression during the bath and grooming service, male dogs were more aggressive than the female, and that males were more reactive to unknown caretaker. The results of this research propose that the familiarization of the animal with the bath and grooming environment and caretaker is important to the welfare of poodle dogs, especially to that of male dogs

Genotoxicity assessment of Garcinia achachairu Rusby (Clusiaceae) extract in mammalian cells in vivo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Genotoxic effects of (-)-cubebin in somatic cells of mice

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evaluation of the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala D.C. in different cells of mice

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Nandrolone androgenic hormone presents genotoxic effects in different cells of mice

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Evaluation of the in vivo mutagenic potential of hydroalcoholic extracts of the northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. Ericales, Ericaceae) on peripheral blood cells of Swiss mice (Mus musculus Rodentia, Muridae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)